Good Bye 3

This year we said...

Good Bye to Potty Training

and

Hello Panties and dry nights

Good bye to learning the ABC's

Hello to knowing the ABC's and their sounds

Good bye to family and friends caring for you everyday

Hello to full time daycare

Good bye a stacked bob

Hello grow out

Good bye toddler bed

Hello big girl bed with princess sheets

Good bye health scare free

Hello one trip to the ER and one amoxicillin rash that may or may not have been an allergic reaction so we will forever be cautious with the cilins

Good bye back pack

Hello skis

Good bye just scribblers on the page

Hello identifiable shapes and people

Good bye to a tricycle

Hello two wheeler

Good bye 3

Hello 4

You accomplished so much in the last year and I can't wait to see what the next year brings.

Happy Birthday Carina

I love you

Carina takes to the skys....and skis

We decided to hit the slopes again this year with Buggy Last year you may recall Carina's magic carpet ride...well this year she wasn't having it. She took one look at the people sailing by in the skys above and decided she would rather do that. So we headed over to the Buttercup run at Mt. Hood Meadows. Travis and her set off on the lift a head of me, I winced, I couldn't watch, I couldn't do anything anyway, I was so anxious about it I missed the dismount from the lift but since the lift didn't come to a screeching halt I knew they had successfully made it to the ground.

Apparently the first thing Carina said after getting off the lift was "can we do that again". She wasn't afraid or phased in the least by being 20 feet in the air. Travis helped her down the mountain all day, she was a trooper throughout. She wanted one break for lunch which she devoured and then she was ready to get back on the slopes.

It was a really great day with lots of father daughter bonding. I skied with them as well but I also got to go ski the big girls slopes on my own with my new randonee set up. It only took 3 configurations to get it all to work for me.

Those of you who are Warren Miller fans will appreciate my filming/skiing skills.

Holiday Performance

Thursday night was a first of hopefully many annual holiday programs, this one put on at Carina's daycare. After a little bit of stage fright that involved Carina clingy to me and those big blue eyes welling up with tears I was able to leave her with her classmates and get a front and center seat(literally, it is funny how people are with their personal space even when seating is limited). And this is what followed....

Random updatedness

Well of course there was Halloween, we spent it at PIR at the ChumpCar race that my older brother was all set to race in but 2 1/2 hours into the 24 hour endurance race the car gave out and despite at herculean effort by his teammates they could not get the car running.
Oh well there was good candy and other little goodies as some vendors were there. Plus we got to see Uncle Chris, grandma and grandpa, uncle Jeremy, Aunt Megan and cousins Leila (the spider witch) and Nathan(umm the only boy, a transformer I think).
Carina's was a princess for the 2nd year, Cinderella this year. She got to were her costume to school, Travis asked me if I was sure about that because she they might go play outside. I said "they wouldn't do that with all the kids costumes on" When I pulled in there they all were on the dirty playground. But it must have been the fairy godmother dust that kept her clean because she didn't have a speck on her.

Of course there are nearly daily trips to the park. Daddy takes her before dropping her off, it is nearly always to late and cold and now to dark when I get her.
The beach trip I will never forget. When we arrived we noticed Seal lion playing in the waves and it beached itself. We, being smart animal loving people gave it a wide birth.

Well Mr. ODFW had to take a look from a respectful distance. Travis has tangoed with them in the past and knows they can be mean. So I went boogie boarding and had a relatively good time. I got a couple good rides in and one really rough tumble. Travis then went out and Sadie, our 50 lbs 9 year old springer spaniel, who is actually a good swimmer(five years ago) decided that he needed to be rescued. I managed to wrangle her back but I got distracted playing with Carina and taking pictures. The next thing I know she is done the beach running after him. I know two things the the current was pretty strong on that day and that Sadie didn't stand a chance. I told Carina to stay in the beach tent and I sprinted after her, again. And again I managed to get her turned back around. But I am not paying any attention at this point and hear a barking behind me. I managed to get between the sea lion and his exit i.e. the water. I make quick evasive maneuvers and get out of the way but then the half blind dog decides to get curious so then I am thinking okay Carina is watching I cant let the sea lion eat her so I dive in between them and grab frantically at Sadie and get her away from the sea lion. Then I realize a small crowed has formed watching the my little spectacle. Sadie was then secured to a large log until it was time to leave the beach. I hid under the beach tent with Carina trying to regain my regain a normal heartbeat. At dinner I drank my Rogue hefeweizen at Mo's like it was my heart medicine.
If you haven't been to the predators exhibit at the Zoo, stop reading this and go....NOW...GO! We also went on Halloween, which was a hoot, they have special enrichment activities for the animals with pumpkins and a scavenger hunt. I wish I could make this a annual tradition, but unfortunately work with get in the way until Halloween is declared a national holiday.
And finally this last weekend we went skiing. Carina is doing so well and loves it even more now that she has pink pants and a pink ski jacket.

J-E-E-P

While in the changing room today, in the midst of Carina trying on size 4 Oshkosh B'Gosh jeans she looks over at her stroller and reads "j...jee...jeep, mommy that says jeep". 3 years old and she reads. I have known she was smart for sometime but it always amazes me when these moments come up.

Carina's namesake

Hubble Photos

Added by The Oregonian on September 9, 2009 at 9:10 AM

This undated handout image provided by NASA, released Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, taken by the refurbished Hubble Space Telescope, shows stars bursting to life in the chaotic Carina Nebula. (AP Photo/NASA)

This photo is part of the Hubble Telescope Photos gallery

My princess perfect day

Part II

So after my wonderful time with Leila on Saturday I fulfilled a promise that I made to Carina months ago.....that when she was ready we would get her ears pierced. I think she really wanted the earrings but was afraid of the possibility of pain. But after some discussion about what a special day it would be Carina was ready.

She eagerly got up in the chair and held on to that bear for dear life. She was ready but a little scared. The lady pierced her first ear and she had a little shock but she was much more prepared for the 2nd ear.

Carina was very happy with the results and beamed at her reflection when it was all done.

The day was made even more special by Took joining us. And in aunty like fashion she purchased her some new hair bobbles, a great pink sparkly purse and chocolate to commence the big event. We also went to the Disney store to purchase her Halloween costume.

So the next time you see Carina ask to see her ears....who am I kidding she will show you long before the words come out of your mouth.